PlaneFun 5 #1 Posted November 19 Just wondering if most people carry on their rig on check it down below. This would be for travel within the U.S.A. Also, do you "disguise" your rig in a bag or rig sleeve? Do you keep your hook knife in the pocket if carry-on? Thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SethInMI 48 #2 November 19 I have done both, carried it on and checked it. I put the rig in a 22" roller suitcase, but not everyone's rig would fit in such a bag. Don't try to carry on your hook knife. TSA took mine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lawndarter 2 #3 November 19 I use a RigSleeve. I've been fine with a hook knife I've forgetten to remove before, because the TSA folks all looked at it and decided it could not be used as a weapon in any way. Usually, though, I put it in my checked bag. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 19 #4 November 19 17 hours ago, PlaneFun said: Just wondering if most people carry on their rig on check it down below. This would be for travel within the U.S.A. Also, do you "disguise" your rig in a bag or rig sleeve? Be aware security may demand you open the main and reserve. It does not matter if you have the X-ray cards and USPA letter and all, they can demand it and you can't expect to change their mind. Be aware that carrying your rig around exposed might cause some nervous Nellie to get security involved. No matter how cool it might seem to get on a commercial flight with your rig on your back, it draws unwanted attention and could result in skydivers being treated worse in the future. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SethInMI 48 #5 November 19 21 minutes ago, sundevil777 said: No matter how cool it might seem to get on a commercial flight with your rig on your back, it draws unwanted attention and could result in skydivers being treated worse in the future. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with this happening to them? Seems unlikely thing to worry about. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theplummeter 6 #6 November 20 I've always carried mine on because I'm afraid of what could happen if TSA has unsupervised access to my handles. I have a rig sleeve, usually remove my hook knife but forgot last time I flew (about a month ago) and made it through both Denver and San Diego without any issues. About 6 years ago at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway a TSA agent attempted to lift my old rig by the metal reserve ripcord as it came out of the scanner. The reserve pilot chute hit the floor but the free bag didnt move and I was able to carry it on in a trash bag. Thankfully i was heading home from Eloy or that really could have been a trip spoiler. The agent apologized and the supervisor had me fill out a form that got me a check to pay for a repack. I have a Curv now with pillows and the rig sleeve has velcro stretch covers that wrap around the cutaway and reserve handles. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danornan 12 #7 November 20 I always carry mine and check the knife. There is no reason to carry your rig without putting it inside a general backpack type of container. TSA will give it a look and generally pass you through to the swab table and then say thanks... Don't make a big deal about it and they won't either. Everyone on the airplane does not need to know that you jump out of airplanes... I also check my weight belt. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 134 #8 November 20 11 hours ago, theplummeter said: ...About 6 years ago at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway a TSA agent attempted to lift my old rig by the metal reserve ripcord as it came out of the scanner. The reserve pilot chute hit the floor but the free bag didn't move and I was able to carry it on in a trash bag... I have heard that tying the chest strap around & through the reserve handle will prevent this sort of thing. There are other ways, but the potential of locking the reserve handle in place is reduced by using the chest strap. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spdFlyer 3 #9 November 20 I traveled to about 5 countries this summer and always carried my on and use a rig sleeve. It has the little handle covers, so I don't worry about someone pulling one by accident. Usually they'll just swab it and nothing more. I think the 2 biggest issues I ran into was one TSA agent didn't know what to do and called her supervisor over and he just said it's fine and waived me threw. I never had an issue with any security. I had a bigger worry of other passengers who like to try to shove their oversized carry-ons into bins that aren't big enough or have enough room left and crush everyone else's shit. Most people just think it's a big backpack. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 24 #10 November 20 On 11/19/2019 at 10:57 AM, Lawndarter said: I've been fine with a hook knife I've forgetten to remove before, because the TSA folks all looked at it and decided it could not be used as a weapon in any way. I think this would depend on the type of hook knife -- I was really irritated to have one confiscated until I considered that the "hook" was big enough that I could have lopped off a fingertip with it. The TSA has been cool with me when I've taken my stuff through security, for the most part. I'd just recommend that you allow some extra time, because if you're cutting it close, you'll look nervous, and if you look nervous they'll wonder what you're up to, and it all goes downhill from there. If you are relaxed and willing to shoot the shit with them about skydiving, they will probably not be too jerky about it. I generally carry my gear on if I have connecting flights (if I'm going to get separated from my luggage because of too tight a connection, I'd rather that luggage not be $10k worth of custom skydiving gear!). I check it if I have a direct flight, and I make sure I've arrived at the airport with plenty of time for the baggage handlers to get it to the plane. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timski 5 #11 November 21 I don't hide it, tie both handles with pull up cords and don't take your eyes off of it while it gets handled... I've only done this twice from BWI to Florida... No issues to report. Obviously, check the hook knives. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lawndarter 2 #12 November 21 I've only once in I don't know how many flights had anything close to an issue. I always tell the screeners what it is beforehand in case they've never seen a rig before and the most they've ever wanted to do is swab the outside of it. I do tie my handles with pullup cords and have the covers from the RigSleeve on as well, The two funniest things that have happened doing so were on the same flight. I was on the exit row of a puddlejumper from Monterey to Phoenix, and literally had to buckle the rig into the seat beside me as it would not fit in the tiny bin on the plane. Someone passing chuckled recognizing what it was and said, "Nervous flyer?". Then someone else, do a degree I couldn't entirely assess, was unnerved by the "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" warning on it, I just told them, "Not this kind of flight". 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Holroyd 1 #13 November 21 Always carried my rig with me in a bag, hook knife in checked luggage. Once about 8 years ago, they had me unpack the main at JFK. They took a look at the canopy and I repacked it on the floor. Not sure why they wanted that but I thought it was better not to argue with them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lawndarter 2 #15 November 22 1 hour ago, dpreguy said: What is a "rig sleeve?" A RigSleeve is a cover for your rig, a sleeve, if you will. http://www.rigsleeve.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
